Perigee Bookmarks

Some Words of Advice for Prince William and Kate Middleton on Their Special Day…

Posted by Maria Gagliano

All this talk about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding made me realize that my own one-year wedding anniversary is just a week away. I don’t know how things work in the Royal Family, but around these middle-class parts, we write our own thank-you notes in appreciation of our guests’ thoughtfulness and good wishes. I can only wonder whether Will and Kate will be hand-writing their own cards, or if their royal situation allows them the luxury of a little help (based on this guest list, they have a lot of writing to do!).

Etiquette expert Emily Post says you have three months to send a thank-you note after a wedding gift is received. Whether they have help or plan to write notes themselves, I can only hope that Will and Kate don’t let their first year of marriage fly by as quickly as I did. Yes, 51 weeks after my wedding, I still have a solid stack of thank-you notes collecting dust on my desk. Every weekend I promise I’ll finish them and every weekend the layer of dust thickens. It’s not that I’m not thankful to everyone who came to our wedding. I felt so incredibly blessed and grateful! I can’t explain how the days and weeks and months (and year?!) pass. I’m more than a little embarrassed.

So, Will, Kate, in an effort to keep you from treading down the dark and unintentionally tasteless path that I did, I’m sending you some sage advice from our veteran etiquette expert, Rosalie Maggio. Her book, How to Say It, offers tips on what to say (and yes, how to say it) in any situation, from business letters to thank-you notes. Take her advice, and you’ll remain as classy as only a member of the royal family could be:

 

How to Say It When Writing Thank-You Notes:

• Describe in some detail what you are grateful for (not just “the lovely gift” or “the nice present”).
• Express your gratitude in an enthusiastic, appreciative way.
• Elaborate on your appreciation. Tell how useful or appropriate it is, how you plan to use it, where you have placed it, or how it enhanced your life, home, etc. Be specific about what pleased you.
• Close with one or two sentences unrelated to the object of your gratitude (expressing affection, promising to see the person soon, sending greetings to family members, saying something nice about the donor).

How NOT to Say It When Writing Thank-You Notes:

• Don’t dilute your thanks by including news, information, questions, and comments; save them for another time.
• When you receive duplicate gifts, don’t mention this to the givers.
• Don’t mention the amount of a monetary gift. Instead, speak of the giver’s kindness, generosity, or, perhaps, extravagance.
• “Never express more than you feel” is a good guideline, especially in thank-you letters, where we try to make up in verbiage what we lack in enthusiasm. A simple “thank you” is effective.

 

How to Say It by Rosalie Maggio

The Last Hurrah for the Printed Book?

Posted by John Duff

At the London Book Fair a panel of distinguished publishers was asked “whether the digital transition in book publishing was an evolution, with publishers adapting over time, or more revolution, in which old powers are swept away quickly, sometimes violently” (as reported by Publishers Weekly). John Makinson, the Chairman of Penguin Group (of which Perigee Books is a member) responded, “I’ve never been to a revolution, but what’s happening doesn’t feel very evolutionary.” He noted that at every step, something dramatic is happening, from different forms and formats, to apps, mobility, and social networking activity, and the “changing character of content” is shifting the role of the publishers, forcing them to learn new skills.

As the publisher of a somewhat quirky imprint within Penguin, I have wondered how our rather eclectic list of titles will not simply survive but thrive.

Over the past few years Perigee has changed. We’ve all but abandoned the broad-ranging reference books that used to be a staple of our list in favor of “popular” reference that features high- and low-brow trivia, books of useless information, and “packaged” content that is meant to be enjoyed and shared rather than downloaded and ingested. While we have not left behind the prescriptive non-fiction which comprises most of our backlist, we’ve certainly tried to adapt to and anticipate a new book selling and book buying environment.

A recent financial statement showed that our sales of physical books were up over last year (and last year was a very good year for the list). But, unlike many of my colleagues’ imprints (and other publishers), our eBook sales, while certainly on the rise, did not jump dramatically as a percentage of the overall sales.

Could it be that the kind of books we publish will be the last hurrah for physical books? It is hard to imagine that anyone is going to leave an eReader or tablet next to the toilet in place of  The Book of Useless Information series, which now occupies this space in countless homes throughout the country. Or can we believe that our enticing craft books—from Extreme Pumpkins to Sock and Glove—could provide the same reader experience in an electronic format as they do in printed book form? Would the eBook versions of Imbibe or Punch or The Lost Art of Real Cooking make as delightful gifts as a certificate to download these books? Can the sheer pleasure of holding the chunky little full-color Learn Something Everyday ever be replicated digitally?

Each of these titles is a testament to the value of the physical book. And what we’ve realized is that even as the shelf space in bookstores shrinks, we are enjoying a very positive reception in the non-bookstore retailers—big box stores, mom-and-pop gift shops, and retailers known more for their hipster fashion or home décor than books. We are able to look at these alternative markets for physical books and fine-tune our publishing accordingly while still keeping our market share among traditional booksellers.  

Even though we might be enamored of the touch, feel, look, and smell of the printed book, we can’t (and won’t) ignore our commercial potential in the digital world. So in our cautious “evolutionary” way, we are using the content of our physical books to create and inspire new products—and to generate new experiences for readers. From amplified eBooks, such as Graham Kerr’s Growing at the Speed of Life, which features video and hyperlinks, to the forthcoming Wreck this App, inspired by Keri Smith’s phenomenal Wreck This Journal, we are, in fact, expanding the readership for our books (or for our content, if you will).  

The thrill of this business in the 21^st century is discovering the potential that technology gives us to reach new readers and to enhance the reading experience—and still enjoy the rewards of publishing the traditional way.

 
 
  
 
 
 

 
  

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

A Book Can Change (Save) a Life, Part 3

Posted by Meg Leder

Note: This is the third in a series of three posts sharing (with permission) noteworthy reader responses we've received.  Read the first and second posts here and here.

This one isn’t a letter, per se, but our sales rep Carolyn Tabor really took to the projects in this book, creating a whole menagerie of awesome sock creations…

In response to Sock and Glove:

 
 
  
  

 
 
  
  

A Book Can Change (Save) a Life, Part 2

Posted by Meg Leder

Note: This is the second in a series of three posts sharing (with permission) noteworthy reader responses we've received.  Read the first and third posts here and here.

In response to Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere:  

Dear Kate and Marianne,

I never used the word “fat” or liked the word “fat” until my 34th year after I got my hands on a copy of your book. That book changed the game for me. It was a simple and straight-forward introduction to the fat-o-sphere and I am not overstating things when I say it changed my life. I was putting off too many things, waiting to lose that magical 50 pounds that would make EVERYTHING BETTER. And then I read that book and said—screw that. No more waiting. So I started dating. And I started not being afraid. And I realized that I didn’t have to wait for anything. So I made some new friends and de-friended people on Facebook who made thoughtless fat jokes and started to really believe that I was NOT a damned girl because I couldn’t shop at Banana Republic. 

I was so darn excited I left an effusive review on Amazon:  

This book got me a date.

Seriously. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy (but I still bought the finished book as a show of appreciation and support). I was 6 months out of a relationship and feeling anxious about putting my girthful self out into the cruel world of dating. I decided I would take the leap in the spring AFTER I'd lost 50 pounds. Then I read Fat-O-Sphere. It made me feel strong. If I was happy and successful and active and feeling great, why not embrace it? Being fat did not negate all those really good things. So I promptly began online dating. And it worked. I met lots of fellows (nice ones, bad ones, lots of crazy ones) who delight in my glamorous heft. I am beyond grateful to Marianne and Kate for writing a book that helped me stop feeling ashamed and guilty and confused. Health at every size, peace of mind at every size, happiness at any size--that's what this book advocates, explains and encourages.

Books have always changed my life in ways big and small—but before Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere, no book brought me dates, fabulous friends, and a new way of seeing myself and the world. 

Many thanks.

A Book Can Change (Save) a Life

Posted by Meg Leder

Note: This is the first in a series of three posts sharing (with permission) noteworthy reader responses we've received.  Read the second and third posts here and here.

Publishing a book requires a lot of breath-holding. Authors write and revise and angst about their projects, and editors acquire and develop and angst about their projects, and then together, we send them out in the world, breath baited, in the hopes that readers will (to misquote Sally Field) “like us—really, really like us.”

Every now and then, though, we are granted the gift of hearing from readers directly. Sometimes, they don’t like us… pointing out grammar errors we missed or facts that seem incorrect. Other times they do like us, commenting on an especially compelling chapter or idea. And sometimes what they write reminds us—editors and authors—that what we’re doing is valuable and has an importance beyond a paycheck or seeing our names in print. This week, I’m honored to share with you (with the permission of the writers), a few reader responses we’ve received. Maybe it will spur you on to take a few moments to write your favorite author about the book that changed your life…

  In response to Wreck This Journal:

 

 

Hello Ms. Smith,

I am a nineteen-year-old student.  just over one month ago, my best friend in the world contacted me one evening because she was planning to commit suicide.  since then, our lives have been more intertwined than ever before, and every single day is quite literally a struggle to survive.

about two weeks ago, I gave her Wreck This Journal.  we had been talking about how every decision is a big decision in times of crisis, and she was in no mental state to make big decisions.  she is, as she describes, an all-or-nothing person, and she takes herself and what she does (she is a musician and a writer) very seriously.  she likes to have things planned and organized, and she hates wasting time, whether that be sitting in traffic or wasting her life, as she sees it. 

I told her that she had to do something deliberately non-"productive" (a term I always use with quotations marks).  the next afternoon I purchased Wreck This Journal and brought it to her.  as someone who has never liked even to crease the pages of her books, I knew that it would be a good exercise for her.  since then, she has slowly been choosing pages to complete, and she has named her journal Job. 

last night I sat with her in her bedroom around 11 p.m. when she literally could not tell me any reason she wanted to live.  I made her write instead of talking; I opened the journal to "Use this page for internal monologue."  this morning I gave her a to-do list that included completing 3 more tasks in the journal. 

it took her nineteen years to get a point where she wanted to end her life, and while one month is certainly not enough time to get away from that point, she is thankfully still here.  and I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for your book, and the comfort that it has given the two of us in these dark times. 

infinite thanks.

 

Check back tomorrow and Thursday when we will share more reader responses.

Top Ten Ways to Drive Your Editor Crazy (Not in a Good Way)

Posted by Marian Lizzi

When I was starting out in publishing, back at the dawn of time, a world-weary young editor let me in on an industry secret: “Editors hate staples.”

It turned out that this young guy was going places (aren’t they all?). Now that the stapler has been replaced by the attachment icon (along with the crazy-making Very Large File and the E-Reader-Unfriendly PDF), there’s a whole new list of things authors do that rankle editors—from minor quirks to major issues.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my authors. I fight the good fight for them every day. But editors are people too, and even the most pathologically patient among us can be Pushed Too Far.

To paraphrase that fictional agent-with-a-heart-of-gold Jerry Maguire, help us help you. And don’t push our buttons along the way. If you exhibit the symptoms of any of the following afflictions, you persist at your own peril.

Wallflower Syndrome.  You don’t blog, tweet, or tumbl? You don’t have a website, or capture email addresses of interested readers? You don’t even read blogs in your subject area, let alone contribute to any? I realize that not everyone is a social-networking addict (like me). But if you’re not part of the conversation, how is your book going to be?

Brainstorm Aversion.  We need a new subtitle/cover image/comparison, and you have no ideas. None? Not one? Zilch? I promise to be gentle. Suggest something.

Promotion Phobia.  You want your book to be a success, but you don’t feel comfortable sending galleys or finished copies to colleagues in the field, fellow authors in your subject area, or your old college pal who’s in a position to help garner some attention. Log-rolling is part of the game, and you’ve got to be in it to win it. Don’t ask us—your editor, publicist, sales reps, marketing director, and others—to be the only ones shaking the trees and calling in a few favors.

Blindsider Syndrome.  Surprise! You’re going on a three-week safari at pub time. You quit your job—you know, the one that gave you a professional credential on the subject you’re writing about. You’re joining the circus. Or maybe it’s great news, but you never mentioned it, and now you need 2500 books air-lifted to some remote location in 15 hours. Three little words: Loop me in.

Author Distraction Disorder.  Of course you’re busy, particularly as your pub date approaches. But there are some basic minimum requirements expected of every author. Still haven’t updated the home page of your website to feature the book? Still linking only to Amazon, to the exclusion and annoyance of, oh, every other account that sells it? Hello? Hi? Over here? This is important.

NYTBR-itis.  It’s great to aspire to bestsellerdom. But not every book will hit “The List” (it’s one of many bestseller lists, of course, but like The Situation, The Donald, and The Facebook, it has been put on a pedestal all its own). If more than 3% of our conversations are about how you can game the system in order to get onto The List, we are diverting valuable resources. There’s more to life—for you and for your book.

Word-Count Amnesia.  The contract says 60,000 words, and you turn in 120,000. Or 30,000. I don’t expect you to be obsessively precise about it, like a high school kid with a term paper, but please try to meet me in the ballpark. On the date that we agreed upon.

Option-Clause Obsession.  No one likes to be left at the altar. So when you ask your agent to submit the proposal for your next book on the very first day you’re contractually able to, even though we are still months away from publication of the current book we’re working on, I start to feel a teensy bit weird inside. I’m not saying you can’t do it, because obviously you can. But whether your goal is to end our union, renew our vows,  or simply get started on your next writing project as soon as possible, it’s important to realize that you’re putting me a little bit on the spot, and without a lot of solid sales information to go on. You might not get the answer you’re hoping for—whatever it is.

Soap Box Addiction.  This is the converse of the Wallflower Syndrome. You have a burning desire to tell the world how big (or small) your advance was, how big (or small) the first print is, how disappointed you are that you’re not booked on the Today show, or you can’t find the book at your local chain store. Don’t hit Publish. Just tell me instead.

The Ghost in the Proposal Syndrome.  This is the sinking feeling an editor gets when a manuscript bears little or no resemblance to the proposal off which it was originally acquired. Specifically, it is much, much worse. Sure, proposals get a little polishing and primping from agents, freelance editors, and others before acquiring editors read and consider them. But no one likes to be surprised by the quality of your work—in a bad way. Make sure you are up to the job, and follow through on the promise of your proposal, in every way.

Phew. I think that’s everything. Almost makes me nostalgic for the days of the Evil Stapler.

Welcome to Our Wheelhouse

Posted by Marian Lizzi

April is Autism Awareness Month, which means a lot here at Perigee, where we are proud to publish quite a few books about autism and related conditions—a category broadly known as Special Needs.

As an editor, I can honestly say that these books are the most important projects I work on. As diagnosis rates continue to soar, autism remains one of the last true medical mysteries. Meanwhile, we're seeing the first generation of young adults who came of age knowing they are "on the spectrum." This means, among other things, that there's an amazing amount of talent out there—authors who are not the white-coat experts of old, but living, thriving (or not-so-thriving) examples of what it means to live with autism. I feel truly honored to publish some of these fresh and important voices.

One such author is Jesse Saperstein, who is in his late twenties. Jesse has Asperger's, and while that presents some challenges, it does not define him as a person. He's a college graduate, a popular speaker, and the author of a truly engaging and funny memoir called Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters. I'm surely biased, since I'm his editor, but I would challenge anyone to read this book without laughing out loud—and seeing the experience of Asperger's through a remarkable new lens. It's the type of book you want to share when you're done. It's a labor of love by a talented writer who will surely go on to even greater heights.

 
 
Here's a video of Jesse giving a talk to students at his old middle school. The subject couldn't be more timely: handling bullying.

And as we continue through the month, we are now launching next April's titles, with a few more entries into this important category. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this publishing effort.

Why a Ten-Year-Old Boy Was Giving Advice to a Congressman

Posted by author Lisa Earle McLeod

“Why do Congressmen say such mean things about each other?  We’re not allowed to act like that in my school. My teacher helped us come up with rules about respecting each other and not calling each other names. Why don’t you all have rules like that?”

He was only ten years old, but his question made the Congressman squirm.

His name is Colynne.  He and his mother were part of a group of private citizens who flew to Washington, D.C. with me to meet with several members of Congress.

How did a group of business people, parents, and kids wind up sitting down with members of Congress?

It started with the 2004 election.  

It was Bush versus Kerry and, like so many of our elections, it was extremely polarizing. At the time I was part of two groups, one very conservative and one very liberal.

Because both groups considered me a like-minded peer, they spoke freely about the other side.   I got to hear their unfiltered assessment of  “those people” who don’t share our values and who don’t care about our country the way we do.   Both sides were equally self-righteous and judgmental.

The “I’m right so you must be wrong” mentality had become our default.  I came to realize that this wasn’t a politics problem; it was a people problem. 

I knew there had to be a better way.

So I spent the next five years researching the world’s greatest problem solvers, people like Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.  I dissected conflict after conflict to identify which behaviors enabled people to solve their problems and which behaviors kept them stuck.

The result:  The Triangle of Truth: The Surprisingly Simple Secret To Resolving Conflicts Large and Small.  It provides seven Best Practices for solving problems.

I got the idea from watching politics. But I didn’t write it for members of Congress, I wrote it for everyday people to help them become more successful at work and in life.

But as I did workshops for businesses, politics kept coming up.

That’s where Colynne come in.   His mother is client of mine.  She runs a major sales organization.  After I did a program for her team, she took a copy of the book home, where her son read it. 

Flash forward a few weeks, and Colynne is asking his mother if he can go to Washington to give a copy of The Triangle of Truth to his Congressman because “I think he could really use it.”

From that point forward events seem to take on a life of their own:

• People start a Facebook Group: The Book That Will Fix Congress.
• Perigee publisher John Duff agrees to donate copies of The Triangle of Truth.
• Several newspapers run stories about it and private citizens—Republicans and Democrats—come forward offering to pay their own way to D.C. to hand deliver the books to every member of the House & Senate.
• My father, a 75-year-old Navy veteran, says he’d like to come with us, lending an element of patriotism.
• My Congressman—Rob Woodall—offers to host the group and provides his office as a staging area for the cases of books.
• People start writing and calling their Congressmen and Senators.
• The week before we leave, The Washington Post picks The Triangle of Truth as a top 5 book for leaders.
• Our group is able to get appointments with members and their Chief’s of Staff.

That’s how Colynne and I, along with my Dad, my daughter, and an assorted group of citizens ended up meeting with members of Congress. 

We had one goal: Get Congress to establish best practices for restoring civility.  As a business consultant, I know that talk is cheap.  But when you establish best practices, you’re forced to hold each other accountable.

During our trip last month, we met with more than 100 congressional officers.  Colynne and the team made such an impression that the 16 Republican and Democratic Congressmen who represent Georgia have agreed to call a meeting of the Georgia Caucus to discuss the issue.

If a ten year old and a group of private citizens can get leaders from both sides of the aisle to come together to talk about civility, who knows what might happen next?

Are we done?  No, we’re just getting started.  If you want Congress to stop fighting and start solving problems, join the Facebook group.

Be sure to check out the pictures of Colynne with all the Congressmen.  Trust me, you’ll see those faces again.

Lisa Earle McLeod is the President of McLeod & More, Inc. an international training and consulting firm and author of The Triangle of Truth: The Surprisingly Simple Secret To Resolving Conflicts Large and Small (Penguin 2010) www.triangleoftruth.com